2010 January archive
Double diffusers ‘banned for 2011′ 22nd January 2010, 11:46
F1 will ban double diffusers in 2011 according to Autosport. The controversial diffusers were ruled legal after last year’s Chinese Grand Prix, forcing several teams to re-design their cars. They allowed teams to claw back much of the downforce they had lost because of changes to the rules in 2009. They were also blamed for [...]
Budget cap architect Purnell leaves FIA
Tony Purnell, who helped devise Max Mosley’s controversial budget cap plan, has left the FIA. Formerly a team principal at Jaguar, Purnell joined the FIA in 2006. Together with fellow technical consultant Peter Wright, Purnell was also involved in introducing 2009′s radical aerodynamic changes designed to aid overtaking. But the budget cap proposal proved more [...]
Five problems F1 designers face in 2010
F1 cars will weigh almost 100kg more at the start of a race this year compared to last. That presents a host of challenges to F1 designers such as brake wear, ride height, weight distribution and tyre wear. Any team which doesn’t get a grip of the problems will find themselves playing catch-up like McLaren [...]
F1 Fanatic round-up: 22/1/2010
Felipe Massa will be testing a Ferrari F2008 at the Circuit de Catalunya today. Ferrari say the official purpose of the test is: “to gain confidence with the Formula 1 car after a long break, due to his accident during the qualifying at the Hungarian GP.” Still you have to wonder if other teams would [...]
Rossi beats 2009 fastest lap at Barcelona 21st January 2010, 21:48
Ferrari have confirmed Valentino Rossi lapped quicker than any of the F1 cars during last year’s race during his test in an F2008 today. He was 0.8s quicker than the best lap set by Rubens Barrichello during the 2009 Grand Prix. But an F1 car with 2008 levels of downforce and running slick tyres (even [...]
Massa joins Rossi at Ferrari Barcelona test (Video and pictures)
Valentino Rossi completed his two-day test for Ferrari at the Circuit de Catalunya today – and was joined by Felipe Massa in the afternoon. Massa arrived at the circuit ahead of his test in the F2008 tomorrow. See below for pictures and footage of Rossi in action. Share this article with your friends: Tweet
Williams change tyres in less than three seconds in pre-season practice
With refuelling banned we’re going to see some wickedly fast pit stops in 2010. How fast? The Williams crew are already able to swap four tyres in less than three seconds. The fastest four-tyre pit stop recorded in F1 was 3.2 seconds – so who will be first to break that record, and just how [...]
Toyota staff follow Trulli to Lotus
Lotus has confirmed two former Toyota team members have joined their team. Dieter Gass began work for Lotus as deputy technical director early in January. He was previously chief race and test engineer at Toyota. And Gianluca Pisanello, who was Jarno Trulli’s race engineer at Toyota has also moved to Lotus. He will be one [...]
F1 Fanatic round-up: 21/1/2010
Today Valentino Rossi wraps up his Ferrari test and we now know he’ll be followed by Felipe Massa a day later. Here’s the Thursday round-up: Links Donington advisors out of pocket after F1 scheme collapse (Brits on Pole) “Speaking in June, when problems signing off planning documents were finally overcome, ISG chief executive Andrew Hampel [...]
Massa to test F2008 on Friday 20th January 2010, 19:49
Felipe Massa will join Michael Schumacher by getting some testing done before the season starts. He will get behind the wheel on Friday, taking over the F2008 currently being used by Valentino Rossi at the Circuit de Catalunya. Massa last tested a car on December 16th when he drove an F2007 at Mugello. The drivers [...]
